7YW Artillery – FRANCE continued

After having started to study howitzer design of the period with my first illustrated Prussian samples, I now have a better understanding which now enables me to also present the single genuine French howitzer piece fielded during the Seven Years' War.

Source regarding this design are scarce. Once more numerous bits from various records had been brought together.

Next image shows an original 1:3 scale model of the barrel. It is attributed to the famous Swiss/French founder Jean Maritz, hand made in 1748. The piece is made of gold-plated bronze and richly decorated. The barrel comes with the button and cascabel sculpted quite similar as the Vallière 8-pounder. My draft just reproduces the non sculpted button variant.

Source: copyright restricted
Image Collection of the Paris Musée de l'Armée, France.
It is published here for purely academic use without any commercial intention.

Source: copyright restricted
Image Collection of the Paris Musée de l'Armée, France.
It is published here for purely academic use without any commercial intention.

Below contemporary draft of the carriage from Struensee's book served as general guide for my scale drawing, including its associated tutorial for dimensioning a howitzer carriage. Struensee designs a 6 shots barrel, that is longer then the French 4.5 shots piece, which, in consequence  results in slightly altered figures with my draft. He accounts for 12 inches of space from the top front edge of the bracket cheek to the front of the trunnion cut-out, while mine accounts or only 8 inches or 1 shot, for the muzzle swell of the true shorter French barrel would otherwise get jammed between the bracket cheeks. Struensee's original illustration also includes a rather major flaw as it does ignore the true angle of the carriage's trail. With his illustrated angle, the carriage would have been fitted with absurdly low wheels, since the trails lower face was in any case meant to be level with the horizon line. But apart from this, all other figures do make a good fit with other drafts for howitzers of the period. Also his illustrated carriage of the French 24-pounder cannon includes an albeit minor figure-wise deviation to its associated tutorial.

I should note that there are also other takes regarding the design of the carriage. See below illustration found in the French Esquisse Historique de l‘Artillerie Française, by A. de Moltzheim, Strasbourg 1866. 

I don't know if his illustration is based on thorough research at all. Again, we cannot see the barrel. The visible bits seem to be based on a Gribeauval M1765 6-inch howitzer, really. The carriage seems to be designed with straight bracket cheeks, omitting the otherwise custom angle. Not sure here. The English contemporary John Muller, director of the London/Woolwhich arsenal and foundries, had the following to say – quoting: "It is true St. Remy, a French author, published in 1723 [sic. – read 1693], the most complete and extensive Treatise of Artillery, in two volumes in quarto, that is extant; which has since been much improved in the last Paris edition, in three volumes, published in 1745, containing all the improvements made in the artillery since the first edition… … All the authors that wrote since have done no more than copied his works in an imperfect manner, even the German authors follow him; though it is plain that the French have chiefly copied [the German] Dilichius: for their field carriages are exactly the same to this day as he has delineated them in his first work…" (John Muller, A Treatise of Artillery, London 1768, introduction pp. iii ff.).

With this German ‘Dilichius’, Muller refers to the classic work by Wilhelm Dillich or the latinized Wilhelmi Dilichii, Hochvernünfftig gegründet- und aufgerichtete, in gewisse Classen eingetheilte, bisher verschlossen gelegen, nunmehr aber eröffnete Krieges-Schule [sic.], Frankfurt 1646 (more widely read, it seems, was the 2nd edition of 1689). Dillich describes the standardized carriages first introduced by Maurice of Nassau's  Dutch at around 1620. The design was soon universally adopted across Europe and remained basically unaltered till well into the 19 hundreds.

Really, all contemporary publications concerning French artillery I know of would repeat presenting St. Remy's 1693 coppers, even the 1755 first volumes of the Encyclopédie do so. As a result, we do not know if anything essential had changed meanwhile. I have the single fragmental evidence, from the Malinowsky & Bonin source on Prussian artillery, who state Prussians introduced straight carriages from 1759 on "based on a design so much favoured by the French at this time". Two pages later, they aren't so sure anymore by stating it may have been only in 1761 or even 1766. Further information on French designs for this period should be the general direction of any further research. Possibly with period between 1760-1765 such models may have been found. Initiated by marshal Broglie, the French really undertook some measures in the attempt to lighten her cannons in order to reduce the ever growing want of draught horses. The Vallière 8- and 12-pounders were re-bored to 12- and 16-pounders, all insignia as well as the figure sculpted buttons were omitted. Also a lightened carriage was introduced for at least these converted pieces, which seem to have seen first service with the campaign of 1761 - not before this year. Oddly enough, Gribeauval's 1765 introduced new ordnance continued to be mounted on carriages with a considerable angle.

7YW Artillery – part 3 – FRANCE

I will try to give some insights as to what pieces were generally fielded in what quantities during the Seven Years War.

At the beginning of the 18th C., French military authors advised a ratio of 1 piece per 1.000 combatants. This ratio seemed to have remained rather consistent – more or less – till well into the Seven Years War. Only the introduction of the Swedish-style light 4-pdr bataillon guns as per the Royal Ordonnance of January 1757 increased the ratio of gun per combatants somewhat.

Detail from a series of paintings with scenes 

of the War of Austrian Succession by Nicolas van Blaremberghe

 painted between 1778 and 1790.

The field artillery of the 1748 royal French army of Flandres consisted of 14 16-pounders, 16 12-pdrs., 30 8-pdrs., 80 ’long’ 4-pdrs, and a reserve of 10 Swedish-style short 4-pdrs. (at that time not employed as bataillon guns) – or a total of 150 pieces for an army of approx. 114.000 men (See: Ernest Picard, L'Artillerie Française au XIIIe Siècle, Paris & Nancy, 1906; also Guillaume Le Blond, L‘Artillerie Raisonnée, Paris 1761).
The French army of the Weser in 1757 under maréchal d'Estrées' fielded some 100 pieces for approx. 100.000 men, not including the bataillon guns. A more detailed break down could not be found. However, the marquis de Valfons, chief of staff to general Chevert, gives a record of the heavy artillerie brought into action by general de Vallière on the heights of Hastenbeck a day before the battle as the French army was filing into its position. He notes Vallière managed to deploy 30 pieces of 16 and 12-pounders as well as 4 24-pounders for the bombardment of Cumberland's position on 25 July (see: Souveniers du marquis de Valfons, Paris 1860).
Really, different to other nations artillery organisation of the period, the French did not distinguish between siege and field artillery. If thought fit, the entire range including the heavy 16 and 24-pounders would serve as field artillery.
Maréchal Contades army of 1759 accounted for 14 12-pounders, 32 8-pdrs., 66 4-prds. longues, and 6 howitzers (8 inch) – or a total of 118 pieces, not including those of general Armentières Lower Rhine army. Source is an original schematic order of battle dated July 1759 found in prince Ferdinand's archive. No word here on any 16-pounders, but there is indeed fragmental evidence some had seen action at Minden. ‘14-pounders’ are said to have been captured that day and were incorporated into the Allied army's artillery train. Young lieutenant Hugh Montgomery of the English 12th Foot mentions in a letter to his mother his regiment came under fire of a battery of ‘18-pounders’. Possibly this has to read more rightly 16-pounders in both cases.
We have also record of maréchal Broglies' army of Hesse in 1760, thanks to the Allied army's efficient intelligence. Around 22 June with the commencement of the summer campaign, his heavy artillery consisted of 24 12-pdrs., 32 8-pdrs., and 6 ‘16-pdr’ howitzers (would equal approx. 6.5 to 7 inch class – possibly captured Hannoverian ordnance, for French only fielded 8 inch pieces during this period to my understanding ?!?). Total was 110 pieces for his army of approx. 138.000 men. No mention of 4-pounders here, but Broglies instructions for this campaign reveal each of his army's 6 columns or divisions (4 of infantry and 2 of cavalry) were to have each 8 pieces or a total of 48. Voilà, that adds charmingly to the afore mentioned 110 pieces (see: C.H.P.E. von Westphalen, Geschichte der Feldzüge des Herzogs Ferdinand von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, vol. IV, 1859-72). Again no word of any pieces of over 12-pdr weight, but we know 4 16-pounders were fielded at the battle of Kloster Kamp 16 Oct. 1760 as part of the French advance guard under general Chabo.
Summarising the above details, it can be said the greater part of the French position artillery was made up of long 4-pdrs. and a good number of 8-pdrs. during this period. 12-pdrs. would have been fielded in much fewer numbers, and also the heavy 16 and 24-pdr. cannon did see employment in battle.

7YW Artillery Scale Drawings – part 2 - FRANCE

After more then a years interruption I finally managed to continue with my artillery project. Job has kept me too much occupied during the last year, but with the start of last years Christmas Holiday Season I managed to do several more illustrations.

As said before, my main intention is to draw the various cannons and howitzers from several 7YW period Armies all in same scale inorder to supply myself – and anyone else interested – with a ready idea on their dimensions. Overall as well as comparatively to another. An image sais more then a 1000 words, a German proverb goes. After all, most of us wargamers or miniature collectors spend much effort in getting the drummers lace of a particular regiment the right way, but when it comes to select the gun models for a particular army that would be most authentic, matters will soon become difficult. For most part because the available information on this subject I found to be so limited, really. Often, it includes a lot of errors. Result of it all is that most models for 7YW Prussians from German foundries more often supply models based on post 7YW data. For the Prussian 1759 onwards mainstay ‘Austrian-style’ 12-pdr. they simply forward an Austrian model with a ‘Prussian’ limber that would mount a munitions chest as opposed to the Austrian limber that comes without it. Now, that‘s all nonsense.

I started with what will likely be the biggest piece that will have to fit onto my selected sheet format.  It is the French Vallière 24-pounder heavy cannon M1732.

With the cannonier placed next to it, this cannon turns out to be a real biest. I found it irritating, initially, and checked scales oncemore to see wheather I got something wrong. But, no – there you are. Dimensions are correct. I have changed my mind and decided for a blue furnish, rather then red. The issue is discussed at Kronoskaf Seven Years War Project at http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=French_Artillery_Equipment#Gun_Carriages 

I decided to follow this more recent French research.

My draft is based for most part on the wonderful material provided in the contemopray German book on gunnery by Struensee, Carl August; Anfangsgründe der Artillerie, Leipzig and Liegnitz, 1760. It provides detailed drafts of the 24-pounder carriage along with an elaborate explanation as to how the dimensions are found. It also provides a detailed table with the dimensions of all other carriages that are to mount the 16, the 12, 8, and 4-pounder of the Vallière ordnance. 

I do not know Struensee‘s source for these tables, but his dimensions roughly agree with the more general details provided in Guillaume Le Blond, L‘Artillerie Raisonnée, Paris 1761, and the principal French source on the subject by Surirey de Saint Remy, Mémoires d‘Artillerie, first published in 1697, and a revised edition in 1745 by Guillaume Le Blond. 

It should be noted that during this period no universal system for the construction of carriages existed. The artillery administration of France was divided into several districts among which that of French Flandres located at Douai and that of Germany located at Strasbourg would have been the most important ones. Each district would assemble its carriages according to its own accepted custom, resulting in somewhat varying dimensions for the overall length of the carriage as well as different heights for the wheels. We should also assume many variants with the metal fittings could be found. See below illustration of 24-pounders in action, found in the French Esquisse Historique de l‘Artillerie Française, by A. de Moltzheim, Strasbourg 1866. 

Not sure if we really see Vallière pieces here, for the artist skillfully placed a gunner in front of the two cannons cascabel sections, thus, refuses us an easy identification. But even if these 24-pounders are from the pre-1732 Vallière range, the dimensions were basically the same. Both were 10 foot barrels.

The Vallière cascabel of the 24-pdr. usually featured the face of Bacchus or Hercules. See below cascabel of an original barrel seen at the Paris Musée de l‘Armée with my recent visit November 2011. It served as model for my draft.

It is the barrel named L‘Eeclatant (should translate to ‘The Devastator’), cast at Strasbourg by the founder J. Berenger in 1757.

This museum is truely one of my most favorate places in the world. I love being there. For me, a visit turns into near paradise if it‘s combined with a lunch at trendy Café de l‘Esplanade. Really, this is damn close to my take of Paradise when you are enjoying a tasty Beef Tartar along with a bottle of Chambertin - Napoleon‘s preferred brand of whine - and all of this in combination with a perfect view on a giant battery of bronze barrels.

Now returning to the topic, here is my next sheet. The French short Swedish-style 4-pounder which served as French bataillon gun from 1757 on at a ratio of one piece per line bataillon, and the long Vallière 4-pounder field gun. 

The Brocard 4-pounder I have done anew and added some more detail. This pieces carriage initialy came with a vertical elevation screw beneath the barrels breech.
The Vallière 4-pounder was the mainstay of French position artillery during the 7YW amounting to more then 50% of the field artillery‘s total for most of the war and not including the bataillon guns here.

This illustration is based on the drafts in Memoires d‘Artillerie, 1745 edition. However sources say the machinery was found being vulnerable to damage, so that that later models returned to ordinary wedges for laying the piece.

Above 2 sheets are the illustration of the French Swedish-type 4-pounder from the original Mémoires d'Artillery, revised 1745 edition by Guillaume le Blond.
The images were forwarded to me from France only in August 2012, long after this article was edited.
Below find the two 4-pounder barrels examined in somewhat more detail.

The barrel of the Brocard 4-pounder should have featured the same insignia as those of the Vallière range. La Pie at the Paris Museum, though, comes with a cloud darting lightnig flashes instead of the arms of the Grand Maître d‘Artillerie. Not sure if this was an exception or the rule.

The Brocard piece saw first empolyment during the War of Austrian Succession. Maréchal Belle-Ille‘s army of 1741 fielded them in place of the long 4-pounders in an attempt to lighten the artillery train as it embarced from Strasbourg to Bohemia. A reserve of 20 or so pieces saw action at the battle of Fontenoy in 1745. It‘s designer/constructor, captain Brocard was killed in this battle.

Below see for an image of a Vallière 4-pounders cascabel on display at the Paris Museum. It served as model of my draft.

Below I have arranged a number of barrels to give an impression of their dimensions to another. They serve also to give a first taste on the distinctive looks of ordnance fielded by a particular nation. 

Note the rather massive muzzle design of the Austrian M1753 pieces as opposed to the somewhat less massive tulip or pear shaped muzzle of French ordnance. The Prussian barrel with it‘s distinctive griffins instead of dolphins and a muzzle that has an odd conic shape are distinctives for all Prussian cannons fielded during this period. It gives a good idea of all this talk about Prussian artillery being designed so much lighter then that of most other nations. The Saxon 3-pounder, however is a tentative and speculative reconstruction on my side. Will do an extra post on this piece within short. The monkey face sculptured cascabel of the Vallière 8-pounder was seen with an original barrel found at the Vienna Army Museum last November.

The other barrel in the centre is a Brocard 4-pounder. Note this barrel has a rather flat shaped base behind the barrels breech. The Douai cast La Pie is more rounded.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get any closer to the pieces in Vienna then this. The museum has a fantastic collection on display at the so entitled Artillery Halls section of the Museum. I visited on first Sunday in November and learned this section is closed for visitors from November through end of March. You can imagine how frustrating this felt. I will have another visit upcoming April for sure.

Below see the draft of a Vallière 8-pdr.

I should note that the tables of dimensions for French carriages in the afore mentioned book by Struensee advises 58 inches wheels for all of the Vallière system cannons. I decided to illustrate the 4 and 8-pounder with 54 inch wheels as per the Strasbourg arsenal figures provided in the 1697 published St. Remy book mentioned above. Just the 12 to 24-pounders have the larger diameter 58 inches wheels.

Next sheet illustrates the 12-pounder placed next to the 8-pounder for easier comparison of the dimensions.

Both pieces are of near similar dimensions to my surprise. I knew about the plain figures before, but you can only catch the dimensions if you actually see it or have some sort of visual reference.

The cascabel design of the Vallière 12-pounders featured a rooster or cockerel head. My draft is based on an original barrel seen at the Paris Museum. It is the piece named Le Harpie (the Greek mythological 'Harpy' – vulg.: 'The Snatcher'). Cast by the famous Swiss origin Jean Maritz founder at Strasbourg in 1743.
My initial learnings from it all can be summarized with the short conclusion: Size does matter. I need bigger gun models!
Now, only the 16-pounder and the 8 inch howitzer is missing to provide a complete illustration of the French ordnance fielded during the Seven Years' War. I hope to publish them within soon.

To complete the range of the Vallière M1732 cannons see below illustration of the 16-pounder cannon and photos of an original 16-pounder barrel on display at the Paris museum which serves as sample of my cascabel design.

I also placed the 12 and 24-pounder in scale to this piece and only now realized the overall dimensions of all 3 aren‘t particulary worlds apart. I must say, when starting the project, I was shackeled by the common prejudice long barrels belong to the early 18th C. period, while by the mid 18 hundreds barrels had mostly arrived at much shorter length. My so far research revealed, this is altogether a wrong assumtion. The French ordnance we have here wasn‘t so much different from that of it‘s most formidable Seven Years War opponent - the electorate of Hanover. This nation fielded 12-pounders with a length of 24 calibers and 6-pounders of 27 calibers as heavy position artillery during all of the 7YW. Also the Prussians had plenty of similar dimensioned pieces such as the famous 12-pounder Brummer (Engl.: Growler) and also heavy 6-pounders with 26 shots barrels from 1759 on. The only real difference was that these latter Prussian pieces were really siege guns, but as it turned out, did do good service also as field guns.
The Vallière system did not make a distinction between siege and field guns at that time. With my next article, I will try to provide some figures that allow to estimate the quantity of the various pieces fielded with a typical French army of the Seven Years War.